Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran
Tehran, Apr 14: Tensions escalated sharply in the Gulf region after the United States announced a blockade of vessels linked to Iran, prompting Tehran to warn of retaliatory action against ports of neighbouring countries.
The United States Central Command said the blockade would begin Monday, targeting ships entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The move follows a breakdown in recent talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
Iran strongly condemned the decision, calling it “piracy,” and warned that if its ports were threatened, no port in the Gulf region would remain secure. Officials also cautioned that any military presence near the Strait of Hormuz could jeopardise the fragile ceasefire.
The situation has already impacted global markets, with oil prices surging amid fears of prolonged disruption. The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, has effectively been under Iranian control since the conflict began on February 28, with Tehran restricting passage and imposing conditions on shipping.
US President Donald Trump stated that Washington would block Iranian vessels and any ships paying what he described as an “illegal toll” to Iran. However, key NATO allies, including Britain and France, have distanced themselves from the blockade, urging efforts to reopen the crucial waterway instead of escalating the conflict.
The ceasefire, which temporarily halted weeks of US and Israeli airstrikes, now hangs in the balance after Iran reportedly rejected US demands during high-level talks in Islamabad — the first such engagement since the Iranian Revolution.
Meanwhile, Iran has maintained control over the strait and has demanded recognition of its authority, lifting of sanctions, and withdrawal of US forces from regional bases as part of any resolution.
Despite US claims of progress, Iran continues to retain missile and drone capabilities and a significant stockpile of enriched uranium, underscoring the fragile and unresolved nature of the conflict.
With tensions mounting and global energy markets on edge, fears are growing that further escalation could severely impact international trade and regional stability.